Die-casting apparatus



C. H. DUCKWORTH.

DIE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1021.

1,41 @4550 Patented May 16, 1922.

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CLARENCE H. DUCKWORTH, 0F BROOKLYN, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR TO DO'EHLER DIE CASTING COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DIE-CASTING- APPARATUS.

Application filed March 19, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE H. DUCK- woRTH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Die-Casting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to die-casting apparatus and particularly to improvements in the mechanism for moving a carrier or ladle adapted to convey molten metal from a melting pot to a suitable die or mold.

In the type of mechanism heretofore employed the rear of the ladle is at all times maintained substantially at a predetermined elevation and the ladle is tilted forward to" immerse the forward end or nozzle into the contents of the melting pot sufliciently to receive a charge, and thereafter the ladle is swung upward into horizontal position and rocked forward to bring the nozzle into close registry with the gate opening for the transfer of the charge into the mold.

It has been found that with this type of mechanism the position of the ladle when receiving a charge prevents or hinders the ladle from receiving a capacity charge, and it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a mechanism whereby the ladle will be so positioned while receiving acharge that a capacity charge will be supplied thereto and its position will be such as to enhance rather than hinder the reception of a comparatively large amount of molten metal; Obviously, the larger the charge that is carried, the larger, or the more numerous. may be the mold cavities which may be filled by a single operation of the ladle. The importance of this feature, and the many advantages flowing therefrom, it is believed, will be readily apparent to those familiar with the art. transfer of the metal is accomplished, thereby lessening the danger of premature cooling of the metal in a partially-filled mold cavity, .the speed of manufacture is increased, and the number of required movements of the ladle is materially reduced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism capable of accomplishing the above objects and one adapted to direct the nozzle positively'and accurately against the gate opening and to hold the nozzle in such close association with the periphery of Specification of Letters Patent.

By such means a quicker Patented May 116, 1922.

Serial No. 453,565.

the gate opening as will prevent the leakage of metal therebetween during discharge. In addition, the mechanism is designed to comprise a minimum of parts, to be easy to operate and one which readily lends itself to association with other parts of the die-casting apparatus for automatic operation therewith.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a side view of the ladle and its operating mechanism, shown in full lines in one position, and in dotted lines in another position relative to the melting pot and to the end plate of a mold. Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 showing the ladle in a third position.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout both views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings; 1 indicates a ladle of 'a well known type, adapted to be dipped into molten metal contained in a suitably supported melting pot 2, to receive a charge and then to be moved so as to carry the charge to a gate opening 3 in an end plate 4 of a mold 5, for the discharge of the metal by pneumatic or other means) from the ladle into the cavity of the mold, all as is well understood by those familiar with the art.

My invention relates to the mechanism whereby the desired movements of the ladle may be effected, and in particular, is so designed that it will cause the ladle, when in position to receive a charge, to be then substantially horizontally disposed so that the ladle will receive a capacity charge. The mechanism as illustrated is adapted to constantly maintain the ladle in substantially horizontal position. The mechanism broadly includes operable means for moving the ladle vertically, operable means for moving the ladle horizontally and means to cause the ladle to assume horizontal position when receiving a charge from the melting pot.

As shown, the forward end of the ladle 1 is suspended from a rigid supporting frame 6 by means of a link 7 pivoted at its lower end'to an ear or lug 8 on the ladle, as at 9, the upper end of link 7 being pivoted to the end of one arm 10 ofa bell crank lever 11, as atliZ, which is pivoted, to frame 6 as at 13. The rear portion of the ladle is similarly suspended from frame 6 by means of ear or lug 14, link 15,- and one arm 16 of a second bellcrank lever 17 pivoted to frame 6 as at 18. A rod 19 is connected at one end to the end of the other arm 20 of bell crank lever 11, as at 22, and the other end of rod 19 is pivot-ally connected to the end of the other arm 23 of bell crank lever 17 as at 24. A handle 25 may be rigidly connected to lever 17, so that by moving said handle the bell crank lever 17 may be rocked back and forth on its pivot and such rocking, as is readily understood, will cause the ladle to be moved vertically and at the same time to be maintained in substantially horizontal position.

An operable mechanism is also provided for moving the ladle 6 back and forth horizontally to cause the nozzle 26 to be positively and accurately moved into proper registr with gate-opening 3 of mold 5 (see Flg. 2) or to be withdrawn from such position preparatory to being dipped into the melting pot for a fresh charge. This mechanism may comprise a toggle having links 27 and 28 pivoted together as at 29, the outer end of link 27 being pivotally connected to an ear or lug 30 on the rear of the ladle 1, as at 31, and the outer end of link 28 pivoted to a member 32 of the ladle supporting frame as at 33. A handle 34 may be rigidly connected to one of the links of the toggle so that by moving the handle 34 the toggle may be operated and the ladle caused to be moved on a horizontal plane as before explained. Preferably the toggle when straightened extends in a horizontal plane at substantially the same elevation as the nozzle 26 of the ladle, and causes the nozzle to be pressed against the gate opening with sufficient pressure to prevent leakage of metal between the nozzle and the periphery of the gate opening during discharge. Means, not shown, may be supplied in addition to handle 34 for breaking the toggle out of extended position.

To revent the device from undesirably swinging from side to side two or more sets of suspension mechanism as above described may be used. If two sets are used, one set may be connected to lugs disposed toward one 'side of the ladle and the other set may be connected to lugs disposed on the opposite side of the ladle 1.

In operation; assuming that the ladle is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and the metal has just been discharged therefrom and it is desired to convey a new charge to the gate opening, lever 34 is manipulated to break the toggle and to withdraw the ladle 1 horizontally until it has assumed the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. If no restraint is offered to movement of handle, the ladle 1 will now automatically move vertically downward until it has asunease sumed position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the ladle is in this lowered position it will be horizontal and will be adapted to receive a capacity charge from the melting pot into which-it is now submerged. However, by controllin the movement of handle 25 this downwar movement of the ladle may be kept under complete control.

By operating handle 25 the ladle may now be raised vertically out of the melting pot into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and thereafter, and while still controlling movement of handle 25, by operating handle 34, the ladle maybe moved horizontally to bring nozzle 26 into positive and accurate registry with gate opening 3 for the discharge of the metal therethrough.

It is obvious that handles-25 and 34 may readily be connected in any desired manner with other parts of the apparatus, not shown, so as to be operated in synchronism therewith at the desired times, and to thereb effect the automatic transfer of capacity cfiarges of molten metal from the melting pot to the mold.

The invention is not limited to the specific construction illustrated and described herein, but is as broad as its definitions in the appended claims indicate.

What I claim is 1.' In a device of the character described, in combination, a ladle, means for moving said ladle vertically, and means for moving said ladle horizontally, said first-mentioned means constantly maintainin said ladle in substantially horizontal position.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination. a melting pot, a ladle supported over said melting pot and adapted to be raised and lowered in respect thereto, operable means for raising and lowering said ladle and adapted to constantly maintain said ladle in horizontal osition, and means for operating said operable means.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a horizontally disposed supporting frame, a ladle, a bell crank lever pivoted to said frame and linked to the ladle at a point near its forward end, a second bell crank lever pivoted to said frame and pivotally linked to the ladle at a point near its rear end, a link connecting anarm of one of said bell crank levers to the corresponding arm of the other bell crank lever, and a lever rigidly connectedto one of said bell cranks.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a supporting frame, a ladle, mechanism for supporting said ladle on said frame for vertical movement and for horizontal movement in respect thereto, said mechanism comprising a member connected to said ladle near its forward end, and a second member connected to said ladle near its rearend, said members being adapted .to constantly maintain said ladle in substantially horizontal position.

5. In a die-casting apparatus, the combination with a melting pot, 'a gate opening, and a ladle for carrying charges of molten metal from said melting pot to said gate opening, of-means for moving said ladle into or out of charge-receiving position in 10 said melting pot, means for alternately moving said ladle toward or from said gate opening, and means for holding said ladle substantially horizontal when in charge-receiving position.

This specification signed and witnessed 15 this 15th da of March, 1921.

OLA ENOE H. DUCKWORTH. Witnesses:

WILLIAM R. AHRBERG, WILLIAM E. BAUERSGHMIDT. 

